health

Plantar fasciitis is a common problem – about one in ten people have the sharp pain under their heel that’s caused by small tears in the plantar fascia, which is "a really strong, thin piece of fascia, which is almost like gristle, and it supports the foot arch. So it's sort of a tie-rod to the arch," says Dr. Meredith Warner, an orthopedic surgeon in Baton Rouge. She adds, "Over time it degenerates, and when it degenerates it can create pain through the accretion of painful proteins," and though plantar fasciitis usually heals itself within eighteen months, most people seek treatment before then.